Check out that barn!!!

We finally managed to get some paint on the barn. We ran across a deal at the store so we bought a couple gallons and managed to get it on the same day. I think it looks much better. Before it stuck out like a sore thumb, now it has a calmer look. I think the goats like it too. Wyatt managed to rub up against it before it dried so we had to towel him off. He didn't like that too much. Do you suppose it's a little strange the barn gets painted before the house??

BBBRRRRR!

Well it's here, cold weather. Are you ready?? We are, well, kind of. Actually the heating system for the "old" house we are working on is not installed yet but we did manage to get a gas space heater that is a wonderful thing. The dogs and I snuggle up to it all the time. I have to watch Annie though she'll stand in front of it till we smell hair burning. Crazy dog!!!! We are making a lot of progress though. Here's a pic of the old kitchen and the new kitchen. I'm still trying to figure out where the "simplicity" comes in though. It seems like everything we tackled gets difficult and complicated. You can't do one thing till you do another and to do one thing you need this gadget or that and then you need another. Fortunately Vince is really good at improvising. Like to drag the pasture rather than buy a 200.00 drag he took a piece of old cattle panel and cut some of the wire and bent it down then ties logs on top for weight and it worked perfectly. Well I'm going to let the goats out to enjoy the pasture. Ha, we let them out and they won't go but a few feet from the barn. Then if an acorn falls in the woods they all scamper back. They are a hoot to watch.

Ducks at Bearpond

We spent this weekend working at one of the rentals Vince manages. We call it Bearpond cause that's the road name. The last tenant left in June of last year and it needed major renovations so it has been empty since. We noticed mama duck last June sitting on some eggs. A few weeks later we saw little fuzzies. Since the weather has been warmer we've started working there and now the babies are all grown up. They seemed to have done pretty good through the winter on their own. They all seem healthy. They aren't real tame but they don't run off until you get real close so I just watch from a distance. They are so much fun to watch too. They seem to have a routine. An early morning swim then looking for food, an afternoon nap time then an evening swim. They seem to enjoy the water so much. They wag their tails, dunk their heads and flap their wings. They chase each other and then just take it easy for awhile. From what I can tell they are a breed called Muscovy. I've read they eat lots of insects and mosquitoes which is very good. I'm looking forward to seeing more duck antics in the coming weeks.